Adjustable folding gambrel



June 14, 1955 E. F. ERLEWINE 2,710,766

ADJUSTABLE FOLDING GAMBREL Filed Oct. 9, 1952 Edward E Er/ew/ne INVENTOR.

BY WWW ADJUTAEFJE FGLDEN G GAREBREL Edward F. Erlewine, Bakersfield, Calif.

Application {let-otter 9, 1952, No. 313,9lli

2 Claims. (Q1. ZEN- 79} The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in animal suspension gambrels and has more particular reference to one which is primarily, but not necessarily, designed for use by game hunters, the same being novel in that it is adjustable to successfully hang up animals of varying sizes for skinning and butchering, and is also of a folding construction so that it may be collapsed for compactness and convenience.

in carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention, a pair of rigid bar members are provided at their outer ends with pivotally attached animal penetrating and suspension hooks. When in use the inner ends of the bar members are overlapped and adjustably connected together. Folding links of rigid bar form are hingedly connected with said bar members and connected with each other to provide a suspension frame.

A further object of the invention, generally speaking, of course, is to improve upon and reduce the number of parts and elem nts entering into the over-all combination, thereby not only increasing the eiiiciency of the structure as a novel entity, but rendering the same less costly to manufacture and to otherwise simplify factors of assembling, sale, and handling.

it is also an object of the invention to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve on similarly constructed and performing knockdown ganibi'els and, in doing so, to thus provide a construction in which manufacturers and users will find their respective requirements, and in-the-field needs, and assistive ends aptly met.

Objects, features and advantages in addition to those specifically touched upon above, will doubtless become apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of drawings.

in the drawings:

Figure l is what may be described as either a plan view or an elevational view, in which it can be assumed that the gambrel is set up for use to function in an obvious manner.

Figure 2 is a section on the vertical line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a view based on Figure 1 showing the position the parts assume when the over-all device is folded into compact carrying form.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary edge elevational view taken on the horizontal line 4-4 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the bar members disconnected and separated.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals and accompanying lead lines, it will be obvious that the device in its ready-to-use or frame form is approximately triangular. it is essentially made up of four companion or complemental bar or frame members. To aid in the description thereof it will be seen that the base of the triangle is made up of a pair of duplicate rigid bar members 8 and Ill, which in use, have their cooperating inner ends in overlapping relationship. The inner end of the bar member 8 is provided with bayonet slots 12 and the corresponding end of the other bar member is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced laterally disposed headed coupling pins 14-44. Thus, the inner ends of the bar members 8 and 10 are overlapped and joined by adjustable bayonet slot and pin means. The carcass Patented June 14, 1955 iQQ hanger hooks are of any suitable form and are duplicates of one another and are denoted by the numerals l6-16. They have laterally offset terminals on their shank portions at lS-l3 which are pivotally joined at 29-20 to the respective bar members. At the outer ends the bar members are provided with lateral integral lugs 22-22. The downwardly diverging bar members may be conveniently referred to as links and these are duplicates of each other and are denoted by the numerals 24 and 26 and they have forks 2d 23 at their lower ends, pivotally attached to the lugs 22-22. They also have similar forks fad-36 at their upper ends pivotally connected at 32 to a triangular assembling and hang-up block 34 provided with a nail hole 36.

This device is primarily designed to assist a hunter in hanging up and spreading game while in the field and to thereby assist him in skinning, butchering or otherwise handling his prey. It could, of course, be made on a larger scale and used in a butcher shop, slaughter house or elsewhere. in use, the device takes the form seen in Figure 1, wherein it will be obvious that the inner ends of the bars 8 and ill overlap and are adjustably interconnected throngh the medium of the aforementioned bayonet slot and pin means. The hanger hooks are freely pivoted relative to the bar members 8 and 10. Also the pivotal connections 29 between the lugs 22 and'ends 28 provide the desired collapsing feature taken in conjunction with the links 24 and 26 also connected with the coupling plate or block 3d.

When folded the device is unusually compact and easy to handle as will be evident from consideration of Figure 3, showing all parts collapsed into intimate easy-tohandle association.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new 1. A folding gambrel comprising a pair of similar rigid linearly straight bar members, one member having bayonet slots in its inner end portion, the other member having headed pins adapted to be releasably and selectively engaged with said bayonet slots, hanger hooks pivotally attached to the outer ends of said bar members, said outer ends being also provided with rigid lugs, a pair of divergent companion rigid links, said links being provided at corresponding ends with forks, and said forks being pivotally attached to the respective lugs, and an apertured hang-up plate, the inner converging ends of said links being pivotally attached to said plate.

2. For use by game hunters while in the field and to assist in hanging up an animal for skinning and butchering, a portable folding gambrel comprising a pair of complemental linearly straight bar members having adjacent ends in overlapping relationship, one end having bayonet slots and the other cooperating end having headed pins releasably engaging the cooperating bayonet slots, hanger hooks pivotally attached to the outer ends of said bar members, said outer ends being provided with rigid lugs, a pair of rigid divergent companion links, said links being provided at their lower ends with forks and said forks being pivotally connected with the respective lugs, the upper ends of said links converging and being provided with additional forks, and a triangular coupling plate provided with a nail hole and interposed between said upper ends, the forks on the upper ends being pivotally connected to adjacent corner portions of said hang-up plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,530,675 Janes Mar. 24, 1925 2,331,566 Pautz Oct. 12, 1943 2,483,631 Fashing Oct. 4, 1949 

